'collectible' originates from Latin via Old French and Middle English. It is ultimately based on the Latin verb 'colligere' (past participle 'collectus'), where the prefix 'col-' (variant of 'com-') meant 'together' and 'ligere/legere' meant 'to gather; to pick'. The adjectival suffix '-ible' comes from Latin '-ibilis', meaning 'able to be'.

'colligere' (Latin) → 'collecter/collect' (Old French/Middle English) → 'collect' (Modern English); the adjective/noun form 'collectible' was formed in Modern English by adding the Latin-derived suffix '-ible' to the stem 'collect-'.

Initially connected to the action 'to gather together' (collect), it evolved into a noun/adjective meaning 'able to be collected' and then to the modern noun sense 'things that are collected' or 'items produced to be collected'.